MALCOLM LEE "MAL" SHERMAN

Malcolm Lee “Mal” Sherman of Dedham, formerly of Wellesley and Mashpee, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on March 7, 2026 at the age of 94. Born in Boston on August 3, 1931, the middle child of S. Richard and Celia (Marcus) Sherman, Mal lived a life defined by deep devotion to family, a distinguished career, and generous service to his community and country.

A proud graduate of Newton High School and Cornell University, where he earned a degree in philosophy in 1953, Mal maintained a lifelong love of learning, especially history and mystery novels. In 2014, Brandeis University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. He served the university with distinction as a Trustee beginning in 1981, as Chairman of the Board from 2007 to 2013, and later as Trustee Emeritus.

Following family tradition, Mal began his career in the shoe industry before joining the Zayre Corporation, where he rose to Chairman of Zayre Stores and Executive Vice President until 1987. He then embarked on a second career advising companies on restructuring and growth, continuing to offer his expertise for eight decades. A Korean War veteran, he studied at the Army Language School in California, became fluent in Chinese, and served as an interpreter. His strong sense of civic duty led to decades of active support for Democratic causes and campaigns.

Mal found great joy in sports as a dedicated Boston Celtics board member during two championship seasons and a longtime season ticket holder for the New England Patriots. He loved captaining his boat “Best Day” on Cape Cod waters and mentoring young entrepreneurs as a successful angel investor. His philanthropic leadership included chairing the boards of the Museum of Science, the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, and Tufts Medical Center, serving as an overseer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and supporting numerous Jewish organizations. He remained a lifelong member of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley.

Above all, Mal cherished his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Barbara (Cantor) Sherman; their daughter Robin; and granddaughters Jessica and Lila. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Cynthia (Richard) Steinberg, and his brother Norman (Barbara) Sherman. Mal will be remembered for his boundless energy, sharp intellect, warm personality, and his remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life.